Articulated arm of the rear mirror

ABSTRACT

An articulated arm of the rear mirror for cars, bicycles and/or to that of an additional internal car rear mirror, suitable for efficient mounting either on the handlebar or inside the car and allowing for simple adjustment of the viewing position. The articulated rear mirror arm referred to in this invention allows for simple adjustment and arresting of the selected position by means of the articulated parts including the rod shaped structure of the carrier element, the intermediate connection element and the fixing element. The mirror is with its frame fixed to one end of the intermediate connection element, thereby forming an articulation.

This application is a national stage application filed under 35 U.S.C.371 of PCT/S100/000022 filed on Oct. 18, 2000.

The invention refers to the articulated arm of the rear mirror, aboveall for cars, bicycles and/or motors or to that of an additionalinternal car rear mirror, suitable for efficient mounting either on thehandlebar or inside the car and allowing for simple adjustment of theviewing position.

The technical problem successfully solved by the invention in questioninvolves the design and the construction of such articulated rear mirrorarm that will allow for simple and quick mounting of the rear mirror aswell as for smooth adjustment of the appropriate angle and position ofthe rear mirror without requiring the application of any additionaltool.

With the known versions of rear mirror arms, designed for mountingeither in or on the handle of the bicycle, motor etc., the mirror isusually mounted on a short or long rod, provided on the other end withan appropriate fixing mechanism, depending on the fixing mode and on theavailable possibility. Such construction of the rear mirror arm,however, involves several deficiencies. Beside the fact that thepossibility of adjustment of the appropriate mirror position is verylimited, the screw-type links between the mirror housing and the fixingclamp often require the application of appropriate tools, e.g. ascrew-driver or a special spanner.

Moreover, such mirror cannot be easily folded and/or removed in case ofstorage or riding through a narrow corridor.

Some better solution is guaranteed by the articulated arms where the rodis divided into two parts, so that it can be more easily folded. Withthis solution the problem of simple adjustment and arresting of theselected position is not completely solved either, because individualarticulations are joined by screws that need to be released before theadjustment and tightened after the adjustment by using appropriatetools.

The articulated rear mirror arm referred to in this invention allows forsimple adjustment and arresting of the selected position by means of thearticulated parts including the rod shaped structure of the carrierelement, the intermediate connection element and the fixing element. Themirror is with its frame fixed to one end of the intermediate connectionelement, thereby forming an articulation.

The invention will be explained in detail with reference to the concreteexample and the respective figures, whereof:

FIG. 1 shows the rear mirror along with the articulated arm referred toin this invention, according to the first example, shown as across-section;

FIG. 2 shows the rear mirror along with the articulated arm referred toin this invention, according to the second example, shown as across-section.

The articulated rear mirror arm referred to in this invention and in theand in the example, such as shown as a cross-section in FIG. 1, consistsof a rod shaped structure of the carrier element 1, the intermediateconnection element 2 and the fixing element 3. The mirror 4 is with itsframe 5 fixed to one end of he intermediate connection element 2,thereby forming an articulation.

As a matter of fact, the carrier element 1 of the articulated arm is around profile rod bent under a 90° angle, provided on one end with aslanting edge whereto there fits snuggly under the same angle a slantingend of the fixing element 3 that consists of a short cylindrical pin 6′moved by means of a screw-type link 7 along the slanting edge of thecarrier element 1 in order to obtain a firm contact of the fixingelement 3 with the interior of the control rod provided for fixing ofthe whole arm. The initial mounting of such rear mirror arm, however,requires appropriate tools, e.g. a screw-driver, but it requires nodisassembling.

On the other end the carrier element 1 is provided with two slightlyconical springs 8, ending into a thick edge 9. The springs 8 fit intothe hole 10 on one end of the intermediate connection element 2,provided with the element 11 into which the thick edge 9 fits upon theinsertion of the springs 8 into the borehole 10. In this manner we getan inseparable contact of the carrier element 1 and the intermediateconnection element 2 whereof the reciprocal position is easilyadjustable, while the reciprocal link is sufficiently stiff.

On the other end of the intermediate connection element 2 there are alsothe two springs 8, ending in a thick edge 9′ that fits into the hole 12on the handle bar 13 of the frame 5. The sizes of the two springs 8′ areharmonized with the gauge of the handle bar 13 in the way that after theinsertion of the springs 8′ the respective thick edge 9′ extends outsidethe hole 12, which again provides for an inseparable contact of theintermediate connection element 2 and of the frame 5, whereby theirreciprocal position is easily adjustable, while the respective link issufficiently stiff.

The articulated rear mirror arm referred to in this invention and inexample II, such as shown as a cross-section in FIG. 2, consists of arod shaped structure of the carrier element 14, the intermediateconnection element 15 and the fixing element 16. The mirror 4 is withits frame 5 fixed to one end of the intermediate connection element 15,thereby forming an articulation.

As a matter of fact, the carrier element 14 of the articulated arm is around profile provided on both ends with two slightly conical springs17, ending into a thick edge 18. The springs 17 on one end lie contraryto the springs 18 on the other end of the carrier element 14, shiftedfor a 90° angle. On one end the springs 17 fit into the correspondinghole 19 on the fixing element 16, provided with the element 20 intowhich the thick edge 18 fits upon the insertion of the springs 17 intothe borehole 19. In this manner we get an inseparable contact of thecarrier element 14 and of the fixing element 16 whereof the reciprocalposition is easily adjustable, while the respective link is sufficientlystiff.

The fixing element 16 is provided on one end with a flat surface 21 thatcan be tightened by screw, stuck or otherwise fixed to a flat surface.

On the other end the carrier element 14 is provided with two slightlyconical springs 17, ending into a thick edge 18. The springs 17 fit intothe hole 22 on one end of the intermediate connection element 15,provided with the element 23 into which the thick edge 18 fits upon theinsertion of the springs 17 into the borehole 22. In this manner we getan inseparable contact of the carrier element 14 and the intermediateconnection element 15 whereof the reciprocal position is easilyadjustable, while the reciprocal link is sufficiently stiff.

On the other end of the intermediate connection element 15 there arealso the two springs 17′, ending in a thick edge 18′ that fits into thehole 25 on the handle bar 24 of the frame 5. The sizes of the twosprings 17′ are harmonized with the gauge of the handle bar 24 in theway that after the insertion of the springs 17′ the respective thickedge 18′ extends outside the hole 25, which again provides for aninseparable contact of the intermediate connection element 15 and of theframe 5, whereby their reciprocal position is easily adjustable, whilethe reciprocal link is sufficiently stiff.

What is claimed is:
 1. An articulated rear mirror arm for use inassociation with a mirror positioned within a frame, the rear mirror armcomprising: a rod structure including: a carrier element, including afirst end and a second end, the first end including a slightly conicalspring ending into a thick edge; an intermediate connection elementassociated with the carrier element, the intermediate connection elementincludes a first and second end, the first end including a slightlyconical spring ending into a thick edge, and the second end including ahole, wherein the first end of the carrier element is positionablewithin the hole in the second end of the intermediate connectionelement, to, in turn, maintain the carrier element and the intermediateconnection in engagement, and wherein the first end of the intermediateconnection element is releasably associated to the frame; and a fixingpart associated with the carrier element, to, in turn, provide anarticulation of the arm, and, in turn, positioning of the mirror andframe.